Shoe vamp with an opening having an inclined front edge

ABSTRACT

A shoe vamp has a front end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and an opening. The longitudinal axis extends longitudinally from the rear end to the front end. The transverse axis is perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. The opening is defined through the shoe vamp and has an inclined front edge inclined to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis and has an inside end and an outside end being closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the inside end. The shoe vamp with the inclined front edge of the opening corresponds entirely to the shape of the instep of a foot to prevent the foot from rotating or moving on the shoe. Therefore, the shoe vamp effectively prevents varus or talipes valgus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe vamp, and more particularly to a shoe vamp that is mounted on a shoe and has an opening including an inclined front edge to prevent a foot wearing the shoe from rotating or moving relative to the shoe.

2. Description of Related Art

Shoes basically have a sole and a vamp. The sole has been highly valued and developed for comfort and durability. However, the vamp concerning the foot health is ignored by designers.

With reference FIGS. 5 and 6, a conventional shoe has a front end, a rear end, an axis, a vamp (90) and a sole. The vamp (90) has an opening, a front outer side (91) and a rear inner side (92). The axis extends longitudinally from the rear end to the front end. The opening has a front edge. The front edge of the vamp (90) contacts the instep of a foot when the foot wears the shoe and is designed to perpendicularly to the axis without considering ergonomics. However, the instep of the foot is inclined relative to the axis of the shoe instead of being parallel to the front edge of the opening. The instep of the foot easily rotates and slips relative to the vamp to make the front edge correspond to and be parallel to the instep. Therefore, toes of the foot slip to press against the front outer side (91) of the vamp (90) and the heel of the of the foot slip to press against the rear inner side (92) of the vamp (90). The toes and heel abnormally pressing against the front outer side (91) and rear inner side (92) of the vamp (90) cause varus and talipes valgus.

Shoe designers try to mitigate or obviate the varus and talipes valgus by redesigning the sole and ignore the problem on the vamp. However, no outstanding improvement is achieved.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a shoe vamp with an opening having an inclined front edge to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a shoe vamp that is mounted on a shoe and has an opening including an inclined front edge to prevent a foot wearing the shoe from rotating or moving relative to the shoe.

A shoe vamp in accordance with the present invention comprises a front end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and an opening. The longitudinal axis extends longitudinally from the rear end to the front end. The transverse axis is perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. The opening is defined through the shoe vamp and has an inclined front edge inclined to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis and has an inside end and an outside end being closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the inside end. the shoe vamp with the inclined front edge of the opening corresponds entirely to the shape of the instep of a foot to prevent the foot from rotating or moving on the shoe. Therefore, the shoe vamp effectively prevents varus or talipes valgus.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a shoe vamp with an opening having an inclined front edge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a second embodiment of a shoe vamp with an opening having an inclined front edge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a third embodiment of a shoe vamp with an opening having an inclined front edge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a fourth embodiment of a shoe vamp with an opening having an inclined front edge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a shoe with a vamp in accordance with the prior art; and

FIG. 6 is an operational top view of the foot wearing the shoe in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a shoe vamp in accordance with the present invention is mounted on a sole of one of a pair of shoes. The shoes are made without shoelaces and may be leather shoes or boots.

The shoe vamp comprises a front end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis (A), a transverse axis (L) and an opening (20).

The front end corresponds to toes of a foot.

The rear end corresponds to a heel of the foot.

The longitudinal axis (A) extends longitudinally from the rear end to the front end.

The transversely axis (L) is perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (A).

The opening (20) is defined through the shoe vamp, allows the foot to extend through the opening (20) into the shoe and has an inclined front edge (11).

The inclined front edge (11) is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (A) and the transverse axis (L), may have a first acute included angle (θ) between the inclined front edge (11) and the transverse axis (L) in an extent from 5 to 50 degrees. The inclined front edge (11) has an inside end (111) and an outside end (113) The outside end (113) is closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the inside end (112). The inclined front edge (11) corresponds to an instep of the foot and keeps the foot from rotating or moving relative to the shoe vamp on the shoe. Therefore, the shoe vamp prevents the foot from suffering from varus or talipes valgus.

With reference to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the shoe vamp in accordance with the present invention is mounted on a sole of one of a pair of shoes. The shoes are made with shoelaces and may be gym shoes, walking shoes or running shoes. The shoe vamp comprises a front end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis (A), a transverse axis (L), an inside flap (15), an outside flap (16), a tongue (17) and an opening (20A).

The inside flap (15) has a rear end.

The outside flap (16) is shorter than the inside flap (15) and has a rear end closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the rear end of the inside flap (15).

The tongue (17) is formed between the inside flap (15) and the outside flap (16) and has a rear edge that is inclined.

The opening (20A) has an inclined front edge (11A). The inclined front edge (11A) is similar to that of the first embodiment and is formed on the rear ends of the inside flap (15) and the outside flap (16) to make the rear end of the outside flap (16) in front of the that of the inside flap (15).

With reference to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the shoe vamp in accordance with the present invention is mounted on a sandal, is similar to the first embodiment and further has an instep strap (18). The instep strap (18) is formed on the shoe vamp and has a rear edge. The inclined front edge (11B) of the opening (20B) is similar to that in the first embodiment and is formed on the rear edge of the instep strap (18) to make the rear edge of the instep strap (18) inclined.

With reference to FIG. 4, a fourth embodiment of the shoe vamp in accordance with the present invention is similar to the first embodiment and is mounted on one of close shoes without shoelaces. The opening has an inside inclined front edge (11D) and an outside inclined front edge (12D). The inside inclined front edge (11D) is similar to the inclined front edge (11, 11A, 11B) of the first, second and third embodiments. The outside inclined front edge (12D) is connected to the inside inclined front edge (11D) and is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (A) and the transverse axis (L). The outside inclined front edge (12D) may have a second acute included angle (α) between the outside inclined front edge (12D) and the transverse axis (L) being smaller than the first acute included angle (0). The outside inclined front edge (12D) has an inside end (121) and an outside end (123). The inside end (121) is closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the outside end (123) of the outside inclined front edge (12D).

The shoe vamp with the inclined front edge (11, 11A, 11B, 11D) corresponds entirely to the shape of the instep of the foot to prevent the foot from rotating or moving on the shoe. Therefore, the shoe vamp effectively prevents varus or talipes valgus.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A shoe vamp comprising: a front end; a rear end; an longitudinal axis extending longitudinally from the rear end to the front end; a transverse axis perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis; and an opening defined through the shoe vamp and having an inclined front edge inclined to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis and having an inside end; and an outside end being closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the inside end.
 2. The shoe vamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclined front edge of the opening has a first acute included angle between the inclined front edge and the transverse axis in an extent from 5 to 50 degrees.
 3. The shoe vamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoe vamp further has an inside flap having a rear end; an outside flap being shorter than the inside flap and having a rear end closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the rear end of the inside flap; and a tongue having a rear edge being inclined; and the inclined front edge of the opening is formed on the rear ends of the inside flap and the outside flap.
 4. The shoe vamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoe vamp further has an instep strap formed on the shoe vamp and having a rear edge; and the inclined front edge of the opening is formed on the rear edge of the instep strap and has a first acute included angle between the inclined front edge and the transverse axis in an extent from 5 to 50 degrees.
 5. The shoe vamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclined front edge is an inside inclined front edge and has a first acute included angle between the inside inclined front edge and the transverse axis; the opening further has an outside inclined front edge connected to the inside inclined front edge, being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis and having a second acute included angle between the outside inclined front edge and the transverse axis and being smaller than the first acute included angle; and the outside inclined front edge has an inside end and an outside end, and the inside end of the outside inclined front edge is closer to the front end of the shoe vamp when compared to the outside end of the outside inclined front edge. 